The North Penn Community Health Foundation and the Gwynedd-Mercy College School of Nursing are seeking nominations for the 2005 Nursing Excellence Awards.

The program recognizes the important work of nurses in providing health care services in our community. The Foundation and the College will award a total of $10,000 at a special reception held at the College during National Nurse's Week in early May 2005.

To be eligible, nurses must be nominated by their peers and must work full-time and have been employed for at least two years in the North Penn Community Health Foundation service community which includes Ambler Borough, Chalfont Borough, Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Township, Franconia Township, Hatfield Borough, Hatfield Township, Hilltown Township, Horsham Township, Lansdale Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township, Lower Salford Township, Montgomery Township, New Britain Borough, New Britain Township, North Wales Borough, Silverdale, Souderton Borough, Telford Borough, Towamencin Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, Warrington Township, Whitpain Township and Worcester Township.

Nominees must demonstrate outstanding performance in their commitment to the highest standards of nursing, to the profession of nursing, to personal and professional growth, to mentoring colleagues, and to the community.

“We are particularly interested in receiving nominations for nurses working in physicians offices, nursing homes, non-profit organizations and corporations,” said Russell Johnson, executive director of the North Penn Community Health Foundation. “Nurses are employed in a variety of venues including hospitals, colleges and schools. Our goal is to recognize and celebrate nursing excellence wherever it may exist.”

The 2004 recipients of the award were Sally Kauffman, nurse coordinator for the North Penn School District ; Mary-Helen Scales, Emergency Department staff nurse at Doylestown Hospital ; and Amy L. Ruesch, adult nurse practitioner for the Free Clinic in Doylestown.

The deadline for submission of all nominations is Friday, February 18, 2005 . Nomination forms and detailed information can be obtained from the Gwynedd-Mercy College Web site at www.gmc.edu, or by calling the School of Nursing at Gwynedd-Mercy College at (215) 646-7300 ext. 116.

The Nursing Excellence Awards program is made possible through a donation made to the North Penn Community Health Foundation by Fred and Nancy Allegrezza of Hatfield , Pa. The Allegrezzas hope these awards will help to raise community and professional awareness of the value and role nurses have in providing health care services in the community.

The North Penn Community Health Foundation, founded in January 2002, identifies, selects and invests in programs and agencies that will improve the health, welfare and quality of life of the community.

Gwynedd-Mercy College , founded in 1948 and sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, is a four-year, coeducational institution offering associate, baccalaureate and master's degree programs on a full or part-time basis. In the 2004 Best Colleges issue of U.S. News & World Report , Gwynedd-Mercy ranked among the top in the nation for graduation rates with a rate of 84 percent. The College is located in Gwynedd Valley , Pa. , on Sumneytown Pike, between routes 309 and 202.